Chapter 8: The day Gluttony won the lottery.

There are not many people waiting in line in front of the entrance door, there is a different door especially prepared to let cargo in, which must be verified to protect the safety of everyone inside the city.

Everyone is watching at the three of us with awe and their eyes are darting between me and these two guys, is that respect in their look when their eyes land on pals #1 and #2? maybe they think I'm a mount or something? Well... I've carried Rize twice already but… I’m not a flying horse, okay!?

Rize goes a little past us towards the guard who is looking this way somewhat menacingly, although I think I may just barely be able to one shot the guy if I wish to.

“Hello, we spoke some time ago, this is my companion, the dragon Doraig” (Rize)

“I trust you understand the consequences if anything untoward occurs inside the city?” (Guard)

“Yes, I've explained to your captain both my identity and presented my credentials, so I wish for you to let us through” (Rize)

“Hey, Rize! remember to mention this guy!” (Doraig)

I say while pointing with my nose at Rob.

“Ah, yes, this is an old friend I met on the road” (Rize)

“...he can’t be any more dangerous than a dragon walking around unescorted” (Guard)

“Yay!” (Doraig)

“...Just go inside and don’t provoke panic on the masses please” (Guard)

“Let’s go” (Rize)

We get inside and the first thing that greets us is the smell.

Oh lord almighty this smell is so GOOD!

I smell so much food all around, Oh boy this is going to be a feast!

“Hey Rize buy me one of those, 2 of those and 5 of the ones over there please” (Doraig)

“...Do I look like a servant to you?” (Rize)

“Yeah, I mean, no! but you know, they will jump their shit if I go and talk to them out of the blue…” (Doraig)

“Just do it! Rob, go with him so they don’t begin screaming please” (Rize)

“I think I look very shady as is with the robe covering my face, though…” (Rob)

“...” (Rize)

“Let’s go, Doraig” (Rob)

“Fine...” (Doraig)

Okay, just talk as humbly as possible, I'd rather them not put something weird on the food, and I think if they were to release some bodily fluids would spoil my mood as well…

“Uh, hello there. c-can I get one of those please?” (Doraig)

“Hello, dear cust- Hii! Oh, ooh...” (Vendor)

“Ah, yes. I’m a dragon, don’t mind me” (Doraig)

“You shouldn’t move around the city with your mount, sir. You will scare everyone around senseless!” (Vendor)

“who are you calling a mount you dumb bastard!” (Doraig)

What the hell man, maybe I should put on my helmet, or something...

“So-sorry…” (Vendor)

“One of those, now! And at discount for being racist!” (Doraig)

“B-but!” (Vendor)

“You said something!?” (Doraig)

“n-nothing!” (Vendor)

Ohh the juicy goodness! so tender! so much flavor! it melts in the mouth!

This is it. I’ve now found the will to live! no mountains will stop me, no fires will make me falter on my way to the best meals in this world! I will leave no rock unturned in order to taste the best dishes this world has to offer!

Ahem.

Well, at least after our little exchange the word is starting to spread, so I think we shouldn’t have too much trouble to buy our stuff.

“Hello, dear customers!” (Vendor #2)

“Hey there! give me 2 of those and a beer, please!” (Doraig)

“One of the ones over there and a beer for me, please” (Rob)

“Here you go, Sir. Cold beer and a Charpe” (Vendor #2)

this looked pretty interesting. looks like a deep fried patty in the shape of a rectangle. Let’s see!

Oh. My. God.

This is it. I’ve now found the will to live! I will topple all obstacles, cross the seas and disrupt volcano eruptions if I must. I will pull tectonic plates together with my bare hands, stop storms with my shouts and fight all beasts under this world, and do everything I have to do if must in order to taste the best dishes in this world!

“Holy shit! Oi Rize!” (Doraig)

“...” (Rob)

“Where did Rize go?” (Doraig)

“he went straight to the Adventurer’s guild, the big building in the middle of the city, in order to start looking for the healer” (Rob)

“Oh... well, let’s go, that thing turning above the fire looks amazing as well!” (Doraig)

“Are you Mr. Moneybags?” (Rob)

“Well, kinda?” (Doraig)

“Oh, okay then” (Rob)

Rize’s Perspective

So this is the Adventurer's guild? a massive building, the owner an extremely big capital, it seems.

This big and it is still somewhat packed, we will probably find a proper person with ease.

I approach the leftmost counter out of the 15 there are available and the person in charge of attending me is a human girl, should be around twenty years old?

“Welcome to the Adventurer’s guild, what are you looking for, esteemed guest?” (Attendant)

“Hello, I'd like to put up an invitation to join a three-man party” (Rize)

“Okay, we will need you to specify the positions you’ve got filled, the levels of your companions and what type of person you’re looking for. Additional information like for example, where do you plan to go, or what quest do you plan to complete in case there is one is not required but it may make it easier for someone to join your party” (Attendant)

She hands me a document and a pen…

Let’s see… Rize, Level 13, Hunter/Rogue… Elf…

Doraig, Level 13, Damage Dealer Mage… Dragon…

Robin, Level 9, Full-Tank… Human…

I put a bunch more stuff in there and finally…

Place to farm: Hellhound Lava zone.

“Here you go” (Rize)

“Thank you. Hmm? Dra-gon? Sir, did you mistype?” (Attendant)

“no, I did not mistype that…” (Rize)

“U-uh, Okay” (Attendant)

“?” (Rize)

“Ah, yes, sorry. So Mr. Rize, which positions do you wish to fill? please also state if you have any special requirements you may have” (Attendant)

“We need a healer, preferably someone with good stamina and… Oh yeah, they must be able to cook. ah, also. please state that the item roll will be according to usability, and when there’s an item nobody in the party can use the method to distribute will be by buying it from the rest of the party, or sold in the city and the money split between all” (Rize)

“Alright, one second please” (Attendant)

She’s writing everything down I said so far down before continuing, I guess. she seems pretty new on the job, maybe 5 or 6 years of experience under her belt?

“Okay, anything else you wish to add?” (Attendant)

“Hmm… ah yes, If anything bound at drop comes out it’ll go to whoever the system assigned it to” (Rize)

it shouldn’t happen since we don’t have overlap but still, it is best to make sure right off the bat.

“That should be all, it will take around 20 minutes to get your request approved so please stay around” (Attendant)

“Sure” (Rize)

Hmm, should be good for now. I can only do so much to get us a proper teammate today, and I should probably let that guy enjoy the city for a bit, he probably flew around slowly so I didn’t fall off his back while coming from the village.

Let’s see, 20 minutes? might as well take a quick look a the quest board:

Quest: Get rid of the slimes infesting the cave next to the river of Sorsiel. Description: there has been a rise in the population of slimes as of late, and new reports state that the cave next to Sorsiel’s river is a very active breeding spot. Adventurers taking this quest are required to exterminate at least 50 slimes of any type and bring back their cores as proof of quest completion. Difficulty: [3-man] Level 1 - A / Level 5 - C / Level 10 or more - F Reward: 2 Silver plus 10 copper per Slime core.

not a bad quest for a beginner group looking for an easy income, I guess. you can get a full set of armor, shoulder pads, helmet and one weapon for one person with that reward… for about 4 days of work if you’re level 1? pretty interesting if paired with another quest near the area.

Quest: Locate and exterminate the wolf pack roaming the forest at the southwest of the city. Description: A pack of Worg wolves has caused restless nights for farmers and people inhabiting the outskirts areas. the wolves hunt for fun and are destroying the habitat of many other creatures living in the forest, also making it impossible for hunters to look for food. Head of the leader of the pack and 3 other wolves must be brought back as proof of completion. Difficulty: [5-man] Level 5 - A / Level 7 - C / Level 9 - F Reward: 20 Silver

I feel like the city guard simply doesn’t want to do their job, but I guess the pay for this quest is good enough.

Quest: Investigate the disappearance of the children from the Garden orphanage. Description: All of the children disappeared 3 days ago at night. the matron in charge was found dead and no further evidence was collected. People living near the area detected no sounds, screams, or any particular sign of the occurrence and the fact was brought to light with the rise of the sun. the culprit must be found and there has to be ample evidence for the quest to be completed. Difficulty [?] no level requirement, recommended Level 5 or more for self-defence purposes Reward: 2 gold.

There is something weird going on, no witnesses either? and the reward is massive as well, I don’t believe the city hall cares that much about a bunch of orphans.

Quest: Raid the Jird encampment at the northern and kill the Jird lord. Description: Travelers coming from the city of Heisker have reported the appearance of a Jird encampment in the Plateau along the road connecting both cities. Adventurers must exterminate all the Jird living in the Plateau and bring back the lord’s head for proof of completion. Any Jird eggs found in the area will grant further gold rewards. Difficulty: [20-man] Level 5: S / Level 7: A / Level 12: F Reward: 5 gold plus 20 silvers per Jird egg.

A Jird lord? it could have a made for a good mount if Doraig wasn’t around to carry the party, and it’s too much work to tame one anyways, they are an unruly bunch, all of them.

“Mr. Rize?” (Attendant)

“Yes? is it done?” (Rize)

“It is, you may come here in 2 days to check the people who have applied for your party and hopefully choose someone” (Attendant)

“I see, thanks a lot for your help, miss…” (Rize)

“Alka, it’s my pleasure to help, Mr. Rize” (Alka)

“See you soon, then” (Rize)

“Goodbye!” (Alka)

Alright, let’s see how are these 2 guys doing, meal time should be over for them already, I'll grab something while I walk…

...and maybe a beer.

Back to Doraig

Ugh… ate too much…

“I told you to take it easy Doraig, you can’t even move anymore!” (Rob)

“but dude, this is heaven served on a plate!” (Doraig)

“Hah…” (Rob)

“Yo” (Rize)

“Hey Rize, are you done with the request for a healer? no problems?” (Rob)

“Yes, Nope, all good! even the lady was cute” (Rize)

“...Rize?” (Rob)

“Yeah?” (Rize)

“No, sorry, I thought it was someone else” (Rob)

“Don’t mind him, Rob, he is a party guy. Probably got a drink on the way. can you believe this guy hadn’t tasted alcohol from the moment he was born up until a day ago?” (Doraig)

“What do you mean party guy!?” (Rize)

“An alcoholic and Gluttony incarnate…” (Rob)

“What was that?” (Rize & Doraig)

“I only hope the healer isn’t a nutjob as well…” (Rob)

“Oi Dragon, let’s go find somewhere to drink” (Rize)

“Just… let my stomach rest for a bit okay?” (Doraig)

“Let’s just go find a place to stay for the next few days okay!? (Rob)

“Tch, fine…” (Doraig & Rize)

Is there even an inn I can stay at?